INPERSON
West Hills Art League Celebrates
50 th Anniversary
By Kathy Rudolph
Some members of West Hills Art League at the Greens and Things Sale in 2016 .
Photos courtesy of Audra Zampogna and Kathy Rudolph
The West Hills Arts League celebrates half a century of supporting artists this year — quite a milestone for an organization that began with a submission application for the Three Rivers Arts Festival .
“ I had met Nancy Gorr at church and we discovered that we were both artists ,” says Nancy Bush of Moon Township . “ We decided to enter our paintings into the Three Rivers Arts Festival .”
The Three Rivers Arts Festival began as an outdoor art show hosted on the mall of the Carnegie Museum of Art in Oakland , and was founded by the museum ’ s women ’ s committee . In 1960 the festival moved to Point State Park in the City of Pittsburgh .
“ We had delivered our paintings to the festival and had to fill out an application . One of the questions asked what organizations we belonged to ,” says Bush . “ Well , we didn ’ t belong to any . But we got to thinking about it and wondered why we didn ’ t have one in our area . That ’ s how the league started .”
Co-founded by Bush , Gorr and Thelma Fielder in 1967 , the West Hills Art League is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year . Its
first meeting was held in Fielder ’ s living room in Moon Township .
“ We knew Thelma , who was a Moon Area School District art teacher , so we got in touch with her and talked it over ,” explains Bush , who holds an art education degree from Penn State University and was a former art teacher in State College . “ We decided to send invitations to all the art teachers in the area and invited them to a meeting at her home .”
The first meeting was a success . “ Everyone was very positive and thought it was a great idea ,” Bush recalls . “ We decided the meetings would include a business meeting followed by demonstrations by local artists as the entertainment . We still do that today .”
In the early meetings , the artists decided on the name West Hills Art League because it encompassed all areas west of Pittsburgh . Bush designed the logo and the mission of the league was also created .
“ We decided our purpose would be to promote individual growth of the members and public appreciation of the arts ,” says Bush .
Through the years the league has held
meetings at various Moon Township locations , including Moon Area High School , Sharon Community Presbyterian Church and currently at Robin Hill Center at Robin Hill Park .
“ It ’ s almost like the Browning poem , ‘ How do I love thee ? Let me count the ways ,’” says Audra Zampogna , a landscape and portrait artist and the league ’ s treasurer , describing her feelings about the WHAL .
“ Nancy Bush drew me into the league about 15 years ago , and I ’ ve been an active member ever since because it ’ s become a huge source
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